Bentley Plans to Exclusively Sell EVs by 2030

[Zorro]

The whole lineup will be electrified by 2026, among other sustainability-minded initiatives.

Bentley has announced plans to remain a sustainable luxury brand by transitioning to fully electric cars by 2030. Outlined in what the British automaker calls its "Beyond100 strategy," Bentley says it is committed to reducing its environmental footprint; it aims to become a carbon-neutral company, also by 2030. The transition to becoming an all-electric-car producer will begin in 2021 with the launch of two plug-in hybrids, followed in 2025 by an EV built on a newly developed platform.

The Beyond100 strategy aims to take all of Bentley's operations and products toward sustainability, and it will eliminate internal-combustion engines altogether by 2030. In a call with reporters, Bentley said it views the monumental shift as an opportunity for the marque to transform itself into the benchmark luxury brand in the electric-car industry. In support of the Paris Climate Agreement, Bentley is also committed to going beyond the two-degree target. Last year, the Carbon Trust certified Bentley's production facility in Crewe, U.K., to carbon neutral, making it the first luxury-automotive factory in the U.K. to receive such certification.

During the pandemic lockdown, Bentley has engaged with the British government about its plans to put hybrid and electric vehicles on the road, and Bentley said its plan is sound. There is demand for electric cars, and Bentley says 55 percent of its customer base would consider buying an electric Bentley in the next five years. Most major markets, including Southeast Asia, are progressive in the gradual elimination of combustion vehicles. Bentley said the necessary infrastructure to eliminate internal-combustion-engine vehicles is feasible, but it will not be an overnight transition.

Indeed, revealed during Bentley's recent centenary celebration, the all-electric EXP 100 GT Concept served as a preview of where Bentley production is heading. The design language for electric vehicles will likely evolve in pursuit of more modern design in a fast-growing digital world; nonetheless, the performance, craftsmanship, and luxury Bentley is known for will have to remain the cornerstone of its products. Bentley is also investing in a vehicle-test center, two research and development buildings, and a quality-launch center that will focus on the digitalization of its cars.

https://www.automobilemag.com/news/bentley-2030-electric-vehicles-ev/

A sign of the times.

[genxlib]

1. I first read that as

Someone selling Electoral Votes. I guess that is where my mind has been